Healing Wounds Behind the Scrubs: The Psychological Recovery Journey of Chinese Nurses as Second Victims

Adverse clinical events are often perceived as causing damage to patients and families, but nurses who are affected by such events may also have high psychological, physiological, relational, and professional effects. In the international patient safety literature, these affected healthcare workers are often referred to as “second victims.” This article is a qualitative narrative inquiry that looked into the psychological recovery of Chinese nurses who have been second victims of nursing adverse events. Eleven nurses from a tertiary hospital in Henan Province, China, were interviewed in semi-structured, in-depth interviews in the past 12 months after having experienced adverse events. All data were analyzed using a constant comparison with triangulation, reflective memoing, and member checking. There were six major themes: weak awareness of the concept of second victim, psychological and physiological consequences after clinical incidents, positive results from learning, vigilance, empathy, and professional development; concerns regarding formal support programs; family, peers, and leaders; and the nurse-patient relationship moving from blame to reconciliation and the normalization of silent endurance. We found that recovery for Chinese nurse second victims is multidimensional and non-linear in nature, shaped by meaning and context, cultural expectations, workplace relationships, organizational climate, and psychological safety after the event. We propose a framework for support based on context: “Healing Behind the Scrubs” to learn about awareness development; immediate emotional first aid; peer and leadership support; system learning; and long-term professional restoration in the hospital. This study highlights the need for an integrated culture, structured second victim support, and nurse-sensitive patient safety strategies in Chinese hospitals.